Promoting Healthy Choices: Information versus Convenience

被引:192
作者
Wisdom, Jessica [1 ]
Downs, Julie S. [1 ]
Loewenstein, George [1 ]
机构
[1] Carnegie Mellon Univ, Dept Social & Decis Sci, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA
关键词
NUTRITION INFORMATION; CONSUMER; OBESITY;
D O I
10.1257/app.2.2.164
中图分类号
F [经济];
学科分类号
02 ;
摘要
Success in slowing obesity trends would benefit from policies aimed at reducing calorie consumption. In afield experiment at a fast-food sandwich chain, we address the effects of providing calorie information, mimicking recent legislation, and test an alternative approach that makes ordering healthier slightly more convenient. We find that calorie information reduces calorie intake. Providing a daily calorie target does as well, but only for non-overweight individuals. Making healthy choices convenient reduces intake when the intervention is strong. However, a milder implementation reduces sandwich calories, but does not reduce total calories due to compensatory effects on side orders and drinks. (JEL I12, I18, L81)
引用
收藏
页码:164 / 178
页数:15
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